Little Pappasito's Cantina

I’ve always passed this place but never stopped in… today I visited for lunch and everything was great. I’m going to probably butcher her name but Veseeria and Chelsea were my bartenders and they were great. The green chili enchiladas and Mirage margarita turned out to be the perfect lunch combo. So glad I stopped by and will definitely be returning.

Little Papapacito’s was amazing. It’s a test kitchen, so you’ll find unique menu items you won’t see at the regular Papacito’s Cantina. The service was top-notch, and the staff was super knowledgeable about every dish. Highly recommend the snapper crudo it had just the right balance of spice and flavor. Can’t wait to go back and try more!

Brian took amazing care of us, I got the full rack of ribs and they were phenomenal. Very well seasoned, crispy on the outside, and perfectly tender on the inside. The plate is huge by the way, great portion! On Wednesdays they have 40% off a lb of fajita, it comes out to 30-ish for the chicken and 60-ish for the beef, comes with queso, rice, guac, tortillas. Super good and great prices. Had a great experience cause of Brian, he was so accommodating and conversational.

If you’re looking for the best Tex-Mex in town, Little Pappasito’s Cantina is an absolute must-visit! From the moment you walk in, the warm and lively atmosphere sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. The service is top-notch—friendly, attentive, and always making sure you have everything you need. Now, let’s talk about the food—the chicken fajitas are simply out of this world! They arrive sizzling on a hot skillet, perfectly seasoned and grilled to juicy perfection. The aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water! Served with fresh, house-made tortillas, buttery grilled onions, and a side of flavorful guacamole, every bite is a burst of authentic Tex-Mex goodness. The chicken is tender, smoky, and incredibly flavorful, with just the right amount of char from the grill. Pair it with their refreshing margaritas, and you’ve got a meal that’s both satisfying and unforgettable. Whether you’re dining with family, friends, or celebrating a special occasion, Little Pappasito’s delivers an experience that keeps you coming back for more. I can’t recommend this place enough—5 stars all the way! If you’re craving the best fajitas in town, look no further!

The Sunday hours made it a no brainer to go. 10am. The new Lump Crab Enchiladas were absolutely amazing. D, our server, was perfect. Polite, knowledgeable about the menu, and friendly.

Loved it ! Great customer service all around , Samatha was very friendly and wonderful to us and she wasn’t even our server , she even hooked us up with great recommendations on food and activities in Houston and cheese dip on the house since we were from out of town. Our server pansy was super nice and friendly , she was on it ! She ain’t come to play at work. 10/10 !! Give my girlies a raise they ate downnnn.

Cameron was very delightful and knowledgeable about the menu. I ended up having the grilled octopus and red snapper aguachile based on her recommendation and they did not disappoint. I hope they keep these items on their menu!

So glad I got to visit this place while in Houston. The whole experience was incredible! The staff was quick, attentive, and very kind. Our server, De, was very knowledgeable about the food and drink menus, and very friendly and personable. His suggestions were great! We experienced the Snapper Aguachile, Grilled Spanish Octopus, and the Red Snapper and Crab Cake Stuffed Shrimp. Everything was incredibly fresh and the flavors were spot on. If you are looking to enjoy a cocktail I suggest the Tamarind Sour! I have nothing but good things to say about the staff, food, drinks, and atmosphere.

Came here for lunch. The restaurant looks small from the outside, but that's deceiving; inside it's pretty big. Inside it looks like most any other Pappasitos, it's noisy and full of rock and concrete, but the inside dining area opens up onto the patio; I don't know how they air-condition the entire space. It sort of has a Mexican market vibe. I decided on the salmon, and I'm glad I did. It was the best salmon I ever had. Ever. It came all flaky and tender on a fajita plate with chunks of avocado. The beans and rice were good, but it probably should have been accompanied by tortillas. It also would have been nice with a spritz of lime. It's really strange - at least in Texas - for a Mexican restaurant to not serve tortillas with their mains. And not to have some limes (or at least lemon slices) on hand? Really? The server was really attentive, like the kind you find at a high-end steakhouse. That was nice. If only they had those tortillas and lime slices...

Shrinkflation ! We ordered the medium Beef Fajitas for $ 48 To me this used to be the portion for 1 person and it was a lot less than $48 Please check the picture attached and judge for yourself. The quality was just ok and did not justify the price of $48 This was the last time. We won't be back

Don't recommend First things first, they took away their lunch menu.. and I came for lunch Secondly, I asked the difference between the previous lunch portion that was $17 and now $33 full size option, the waitress mentioned that the lunch portion was 6 ounces and the full portion was a "half pound".... OK, so two more ounces of chicken for double the price. Great Third, We ordered guacamole for the table, and it looked weird. It had feta cheese on top, pumpkin seeds with olive oil. I asked her "what is that". She said they now serving an elevated menu ‍ This is Pappasitos, not Ruth Chris. Not a fan of the changes.

This place has all the sauces and I'm obsessed!! Please go for the potato taquitos, you only three but you're gonna want more!! I dipped in the verde sauce and the creamy green avocado sauce with the fresh crumble cheese on top (have to try but it's not on the menu so ask ). Ok next, I ordered the chicken fajitas and pork ribs! And can't ever go wrong with the rice and charro beans. Honestly no complaints here!! I think I prefer Lil Pappas over Big Pappa!! The vibe seems more chill and I even noticed with their servers were relaxed and not running around crazy!! I will be back for sure! Happy Yelping!

This location has made me re-love coming to Pappasitos again! The food here was amazing the cheese enchiladas were so cheesy and hot, the tacos are super crispy and juicy and don't get me started on the chips and queso! If you go to this location and want top tier customer service ask for Warren ! He was amazing.

Bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with jalapeño peppers and monterey jack cheese? Yes please! The plato san juan was soooo good, I would highly recommend. We also got the chicken mole enchilada which was solid as well. Our server Isabella was great, very friendly. She went over the menu with us and was very knowledgeable on each of the dishes. She even gave us some chips and salsa to go, which was very nice.

A little pricier than what I would want to pay for Mexican food but tastes sooo good! Nice spot for a fajita fix! The meat was really tender. We got some family pack and it came with so much food!!

This review is long overdue! I'm actually sitting here after enjoying yet another meal from Pappasitos (my third time here) im actually being serviced by Zack who's very hospitable attentive and well versed in the menu. I came to Pappasitos for my second time while visiting Houston from New York and I must say the food is excellent, the customer service is excellent and the ambiance as well! My first time here I came with friends and family and we ordered one of the family fajitas to share. The food was plentiful and exceeded our expectations. The drinks were very tasty and I will say the peach sangria was a standout. Before returning back to New York I just needed to have Pappasitos again! This where the customer service played a major part in why I would keep returning back. The tamales came out a bit too spicy for my aunt and with pleasure Dayrius offered a solution that was quick and prompt. However, the tamales came out again not to our liking and my aunt decided to share what we were having. The manager Cane wanted to make sure we left happy and satisfied. He came over to our table and very graciously made an effort to ensure we enjoyed our meal. My aunt was quite fine with sharing the fajitas however Cane needed to be sure we left happy. Although he couldn't convince my aunt to get another order of tamales or another meal he offered dessert and let me say that did the job! Oh boy was the coconut curated ice cream to die for! Cane even gave us a little history on the restaurant of which made this experience feel even more enjoyable! Will continue to come back again and again with family and friends.

Food was delectable today. I had the camarones diablo, nice and spicy! Plus it came with guac, which was freshly made and delicious. We also had the sopapillas, which were actually perfectly presented and tasty! Atmosphere is always good here. Good music and the low buzz of people talking over a late Friday afternoon lunch. The service was very good. Our server Aaron was very knowledgable about how the fajita are prepared and how that sets them apart from other restaurants. That really explains it because the food here is always consistently good.

I am obsessed with their ceviche! I always sit at the bar and get the ceviche! The bartenders are very attentive and out of all the chips in salsa I town these are the best. They actually make their own olive oil which really stands out as a nice fat in the ceviche with the avocado! Run don't walk to try this! I add jalapeños if I'm in the mood for some heat!

We had a wonderful experience at little pappasitos last night. I ordered the ribeye and it was AMAZING. Had a wonderful pumpkin seed sauce. I was Leary of it but it was delicious!! Of course the fajitas are always delicious!! Great service and wonderful atmosphere!!

Yum yum yum! The family platters are huge (big enough for 4 people) and so flavorful! The ribs and beef were my personal favorite. This place gets busy and packed and quite loud - so fun. Great Tex-Mex for sure!

Before I lived in Texas, Tex-Mex food was always a treat. Now that I live here, the luster hasn't been lost but the options are still just as overwhelming. Little Pappasito's (#1) has been an easy, reliable option for whenever I'm feeling like queso, fajitas, margaritas, and the like. The place is packed nightly. It's one of those establishments where there's a parking attendant / security and rarely a spot available between prime service hours. The bar vibes are laid back while the darkly lit dining room area is for larger groups. Service wise it can be chaotic at times, but the staff is constantly bustling and I can't completely fault them for the slow in-house service. Fajitas here are always a big thumbs up. It's kind of absurdly expensive (especially post-pandemic) but it's the price to pay to for very tender meat, be it shrimp, beef, or chicken. The pork ribs are juicy and the meat falls off the bone. Enchiladas are tasty and the queso is most definitely tasty. I appreciate the table-side guacamole and I even love their sides, such as the stewed pork charro beans or even their complimentary salsa. I think it's not hard to get drunk off of their very potent margaritas, which I would prefer to drink first before indulging on any of the food. Their takeout game is also on point. All orders can be placed online, the takeout packaging is nearly perfect, and they offer curbside service. The plus side is that even if their dining room is completely full, the takeout options are still a great way to enjoy what they offer best. ___________ (#1) "Lil Sito's" as some locals might say.

The best food ever! the best team ever! The manager Michael was so great and took care of us! Our waitress Cameron was so sweet and caring! The most knowledgeable and articulate person ive met. Made it a special night for me and my friends. 100/10!

Stopped by after my group had an amazing time at the color factory right up the street we were starving. The place was packed but even with 4 we were able to be seated quickly, service overall was great minor one issue that was resolve by the end of the service. The food I loved he options were plentiful two shared a family plate loaded with the works!! Me and another person ordered from Tex-Mex lunch special all the food was delicious we loved the flights although we thought they were smaller lol overall we enjoyed ourselves and the environment.

Overall good experience. We were returning from the airport on a Wednesday and it was around dinner time. Parking was not an issue but I can see where it could be as the evening gets later. The bar was full! The restaurant was not too bad easy for us to get a seat. Service was excellent and we had the sharable fajita plate. It was enough food for two. Overall good experience good food great service. We also had three beverages. the total was right at $100 not including tip. That is about normal these days. As for eye candy, well it has potential on a Thursday or Friday night at the bar but that is about it potential. I recommend bringing your own.

We came in for happy hour and sat at the bar for a few snacky things and margs. Service was great our bartender was friendly and attentive. The avocado stuffed ceviche was great my only feedback is I wish they removed the avocado peel before serving so eating it would be easier. We had to scoop the avocado out so we can slice into it. Our bartender would every so often scoop us some more chips from behind the bar which was like a treat in itself. The ambiance was chill there was plenty of folks coming in after work to enjoy HH and dinner as the sun was setting. Will be back again to try the shrimp brochette tacos.

I ordered to-go and realized that I forgot to ask for extra leche for my tres leche dessert before getting too far. I called the restaurant and they told me to come back - no problem. But instead of simply bringing the extra leche- they brought out a total extra dessert of tres leche! This type of customer service blew me away! I will always love this place.

My sister and I arrived around 4pm. We were seated immediately. About 12 people at tables, 3 or 4 at the bar. Diondra was our waiter. Was at our table prompt with the customary chips & salsa. Gave us 5 minutes to decide and was back ready to take our orders. Our food was out in no time. Hot off the stove. The Manager came by to check on us, to make sure things met our expectations.

We came by since we had a Giftcard and this is my favorite tex-mex! The location is cute on the outside and inside. It says "little" but the inside seems like a standard size restaurant so there's lots of seating. Plenty of parking too. We had great service. We got the Wednesday fajitas and they were great like always. Love the queso and salsa too. The large margarita is really big. Will be back!

Pappasito's is on FIRE. The food: ordered beef fajitas and shrimp brochette; queso; tres leches. The beef fajitas are the standard for the Houston Tex-max scene. Tip- order them medium and they won't pull out of your taco when you bite them. The queso was solid. The charro beans- lawdy lawd- on POINT. The tres leches was great too, top 4 in town. Service- Daniel was awesome. Props to that dude/hope this shout out gets the message across that dude knows how to deliver excellent service. Ambiance- big ol' Tex-Mex restaurant. Loud, full, people sipping margaritas and having a good time. If it's your first time visiting, let them know- free queso awaits.

I came with my sister and we got chicken fajitas to share. It came with rice and beans and we each got to select the type of beans we wanted, but had to order cheese and sour cream separately. I also got a strawberry lemonade, which was so good! The waitress said they use the same blended strawberry purée they add to their strawberry margaritas. The food was really good, I just didn't love the chips at the beginning when they bring chips and salsa to the table. The chips were too thin but also not super flavorful. Otherwise, everything else was great!

I went looking for the best watermelon margarita to celebrate and I was not disappointed. The food was refreshing. The service excellent. If you go absolutely get the octopus appetizer it was a 5/5

A houston locals staple for quick, easy and tasty Tex mex. Our waiter was an absolute delight which is saying something because I went on a MONDAY at like 8pm so the work conditions must be fine. The queso blanco had a great consistency and it paired so nicely with the fresh tortilla chips that they continuously refilled. The fajita meat was very nice, tender, and well seasoned. Definitely going back soon for even just the queso alone!

Went out with the wifey and her brother on a Friday night and we ended up here. Saw on the drink menu that they have an Avocado pina margarita, so I just had to try it. I mistakenly thought it comes on the rocks, but it came out frozen, and in just not a big fan of frozen drinks. It just tasted too sweet for my liking. So now for the main course. A little voice in my head kept telling me "get the fajitas you dummy" but I'm a fan of taquitos and since I saw on the menu that they have chicken fajita taquitos, I thought to myself, that's the best of both worlds! I still heard that little voice in my head tell me "you fool!" But I thought I had outsmarted it. So long story short, the taquitos came out, and they were ok, but you only get two taquitos! I mean come on guys, every food item is bigger in a Mexican restaurant, or so I was lead to believe. Also the taquitos come covered in a yucky green sauce, and when I tried them, I know they say there is fajita chicken inside but I really couldn't tell, it didn't taste any different than the taquitos I get at Chuy's. To go to the scoreboard, it's my inner voice 1, my idiot trying to beat that inner voice to save a few bucks mind 0. Guess who will be getting fajitas next time I visit this joint. "Inner voice doing its happy happy joy joy dance!"

I ABSOLUTELY refuse to spend $8 or any dollars to park here to eat. Idk when they started this but it was a terrible decision!!!!

Tasty Tex-Mex! Returned for lunch and was prepared for a mediocre lunch- but our meals were better than expected The Sombrero had a delicious taco el carbon w/terrific beef fajita meat, charro beans w/bits of real bacon, Mexican rice (dry) and a cheese enchilada w/salty red sauce. Hubby has the Baja Shrimp Tacos and he devoured it! He's not a fish taco guy but really loved these! Parking is tight and no wait for a table. Excellent service too indoor and covered side patio seating- loud music. If you're having a fajita craving - this is the place!

The service and food is always great. The prices are consistently increasing. Houston is overloaded with Mexican restaurants so you can save money elsewhere. Overall, I have been coming here for years but my visits are less frequently due to the prices.

I have been a regular at this restaurant for about 7 years now. They actually know me there... We used to love this place. It was by far my favorite restaurant. We have spent a lot of money there over the years. My weekly trip to LP is not what it used to be. Pappas has made this place into a test kitchen. The tests are failing too. They have pretty much ruined it at this point. I am not a big fan of the changes. I did not like the initial changes they made and it has gotten progressively worse. It started out with allowing only 3 tortillas being served with the fajitas, new uniforms, strange glassware, smaller chip baskets, and a new queso recipe. It seems to get weirder each week. Last week they asked us to try their ribeye steak and baked sweet potato... Yes, they thought that was what tex mex fans were looking for! I was there last Wednesday (for the last time). Some genius thought it would be a good idea to put a pile of peppers and onions on a scalding hot metal tray and walk through the restaurant with it- effectively creating pepper spray in a confined space with poor circulation. Everyone dining near us was coughing or gagging, people complained, but the idiots kept doing it over and over. After the fifth time that happened during our meal I decided I was done here. If you like octopus instead of tex mex this is your place. We have gotten to know many of the staff members over the years. We will miss them. Lots of great memories. Thanks for ruining it Pappas. I guess steady business there since 1990 was not good enough for you. Just an observation but it has been less and less crowded each week since the changes started. Some folks would call that a clue. Let me know if you decide to go back to what worked!

Food was absolutely horrible. The server admitted to the kitchen changing its cooking oil and whatever they are doing it shows in all the wrong ways. The meals all came out horrible but funny enough I just checked the amount on my bill and they did not remove all of the items that they said they would. My entire party feels sick from the food. I would never go back here. Hopefully I get refunded for this meal.

Our regular Tuesday night group returned. As usual it was insanely loud, especially sitting next to that cackling woman trying to impress some dudes. The food has become very un Pappasito's family like, bland and presented unattractively. Service wasn't great and they were out of lemons? I'd rather eat there than most any other chain, but unfortunately it is becoming just "another chain" place to eat.

Good experience, fajitas are great and fill you up. Nice beef fajitas deals on Wednesdays for $48.95 or you can get chicken/shrimp for that price normally on any other day. Nice ambiance. Service is a little bit slow but very friendly and accommodating. Would come here again -- Houston classic

Visited this family favorite spot for my daughter's birthday! Boy did we luck out and get one of the best waitresses EVER! Now they were busy it was a Friday night and there was a wait, 20-25 minutes, people were packed inside, but Evelyn our waitress was phenomenal. She took great care of us and then some. One of our guest is a pescatarian and she made sure that she didn't have anything that would be against her eating habits. Did you know the rice is cooked I chicken broth? Or that they have black bean refried beans? Neither did we, kudos to Evelyn for knowing the menu for all types of patrons. She also shared a tomatillo sauce with her and it had a nice little kick to it. If you're wondering, Evelyn is a vegan that's why she knows so much about their menu and needless to say it garnered her a very big tip! Thanks Pappasitos for having great service providers!

I'm never disappointed here. I went on Cinco De Mayo which was an experience of its own. I managed to get a seat at the bar so the wait time I was quoted didn't matter anymore. The manager even gave my cousin an entire new entree to take home after they messed up the original Order.

Went on Cinco De Mayo at 4:45. Very busy. But our server was wonderful and took care of us, checking in with us frequently but not being pushy. Food was good (and huge portions) as was the salsa. the table next to us had 8 people and they were extremely drunk, spilling food and their drinks, screaming and yelling......and they kept being served. they were drinking when we sat down and had 4 more rounds while we were there. I hope they ubered. Prices are pretty high, especially for the margaritas.

I get what they are trying to do with the new menu concept. BUT. Not for me. First time I have ever walked out without even ordering. I am sure the food is great but I go there for a reason. And they got rid of the reason. Wish them the best but I will not be back if I want my Mexican food. I will just go down the street.

The best customer service (and food) hands down! My family and I visited Little Pappasito's Cantina on Richmond Ave yesterday (6/30/24) to celebrate my niece's birthday. Our server, "D", WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! This guy knew the menu forwards and backwards, offering great food suggestions. Very attentive to our table of 10 (in addition to the other tables). Fun, exciting and extremely knowledgeable! "D" is by far one of the BEST servers I've ever encountered! THIS GUY DESERVES A RAISE !!!! We will definitely be returning!

Fajitas are the way to go - the beef is tender and delicious. The homemade tortillas are great. Margaritas were a bit tart for my taste. Service was great.

I feel as this place as gone down a bit. It used to be my go to Tex Mex place but after today's visit, I don't think I will go back. Food: chips and salsa were tasty but the chips were mostly crumbs. The entrees were decent. Service: mediocre. Waiter was attentive but refilled my wife's club soda with regular water. The recommendations were good though. Atmosphere: clean and loud but fun and festive

They have cut back a low while also increasing the pricing of things. The food taste fine but there are better places to go. Pappasito's food comes across as corporate and soulless. Hopefully, they find their way back to being good.

I love to come in and order food to go and enjoy a margarita while I wait. This is my second time meeting the bartender, Jaime! He is so friendly and quick to help me! He makes me feel like we've been long time, great friends! That's a good feeling these days! Just shows that good service goes a long way!

I wish I took photos to back up this review, but I was enjoying my meal too much to stop for pics. We went today for Fajita Wednesday and let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised to find both the beef and chicken fajitas WAY better than I remember them. Honestly, I stopped going to Pappasito's for fajitas because in my opinion there were better options in Houston. With this visit, Pappasito's may have changed my mind. The beef was cooked perfectly with NO grizzle (which is what my issue was with Pappassito's fajitas a few years ago - which is the last time I ordered them). On Fajita Wednesdays, the fajitas come with all the trimmings AND queso. There was plenty of meat for two and we BOTH have leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Very generous portion! I also had a margarita and the total was $70. Not bad for a margarita, queso, and a generous portion of fajitas for two with all the trimmings including pico, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream plus the traditional rice and beans, chips and salsa. Also, don't sleep on the green salsa! It is a secret salsa not many know about - so so good! Shout out to Warren (our server), would took excellent care of us as well! We will DEFINITELY be back!

Great service, great food & a nice not too rowdy atmosphere for a Sat early dinner. I would go back to this location for sure. Of course, I Pappasito's. :)

Wonderful meal, wonderful server, wonderful experience! Had dinner here while visiting family over the holidays. Wanted a good margarita and they delivered. This passion fruit margarita was excellent! Now I want to try & recreate my own version at home. The meal was great! No complaints at all. I love that everyone at the table was given their own individual bowl of salsa with the chips. Our server was amazing. I believe his name was Johnathan, I hope that's correct. He was fun and friendly.

Menu prices here have increased dramatically, charging near fine dining prices with mediocre food and service

I had a wonderful experience dining here! The service was attentive and friendly and the food was delicious. A special mention to the manager, Chris, for making it such a memorable time! He gave me some great suggestions for my dietary restrictions and was so fun to chat with!

Wow!! We've always been fans of Little Pappasitos and these new dishes are making us love it even more! Highly recommend ordering the octopus appetizer!

WHEN: new year eve Friday @7pm No wait to get a table. We walked in and we're seated immediately. Our server was very friendly, he kept checking back to see how we were doing and refilling the chips. TIP: grab a bigger table if you can, their food portions are huge. WHAT WE ORDERED - large steak and chicken fajitas (serves 3-4 ppl) The portion was so big, I shared it with 2 other ppl, we all probably had 2 pieces of fajitas rolled up in tortilla shells. We had half of the meats left for leftovers to take over. The food was very fresh and high quality. - full rack of steak ribs Another large portion ribs. Bbq ribs are tasty, sizzling hot and delicious. We had a bunch of leftovers to take home. - guacamole - queso I prefer the queso over guac. It's delicious with their fresh cut tortilla chips - coconut almond ice cream (it came in 4 scoops) - Mexican fried dough - margaritas Go to Pappasito's hungry, their food portions are hugeee. Get some margaritas, those are bigger drinks than your typical restaurant margaritas. Flavors are delicious.

Jaime was our bartender. He was fantastic! Great service. Food as always is fantastic. Definitely a great way to soend the evening.